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Line of Inquiry 1: Main features of bullying

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Line of Inquiry 1: Main features of bullying

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What is bullying?

the emotional cost of bullying on kids and teens?

Characteristics of the bullying?

How does bullying affects us?

What makes bullying differnt from just having an argument or fight

How bullying develops in different social status?

types of bullying

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How bullying develops in different social status?

Some kids have more power than others because they are bigger, stronger, or more popular. Kids who are different or more vulnerable, like those with a disability, learning difficulties, or who live in poorer neighborhoods, can be bullied more easily. According to the 2018 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), out of 23,494 children between 5 and 17 years old, many reported these differences in their bullying experiences.

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Bullying is an unwanted and aggressive behavior. This behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids, who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.

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Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.

In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:

An Imbalance of Power: Kids who bully use their power-such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity-to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.

Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.

Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.

Types of Bullying

There are three types of bullying:

Verbal bullying is saying or writing mean things. Verbal bullying includes:

Teasing

Name-calling

Inappropriate sexual comments

Taunting

Threatening to cause harm

Social bullying, sometimes referred to as relational bullying, involves hurting someone's reputation or relationships. Social bullying includes:

Leaving someone out on purpose

Telling other children not to be friends with someone

Spreading rumors about someone

Embarrassing someone in public

Physical bullying involves hurting a person's body or possessions. Physical bullying includes:

Hitting/kicking/pinching

Spitting

Tripping/pushing

Taking or breaking someone's things

Making mean or rude hand gestures

Where and When Bullying Happens

Bullying can occur during or after school hours. While most reported bullying happens in the school building, a significant percentage also happens in places like on the playground or the bus. It can also happen travelling to or from school, in the youth's neighborhood, or on the Internet.

Frequency of Bullying

There are two sources of federally collected data on youth bullying:

The 2019 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey (National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice) indicates that, nationwide, about 22% of students ages 12-18 experienced bullying.

The 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) indicates that, nationwide, 15.0% of students in grades 9-12 report being bullied on school property in the 12 months preceding the survey.

See also " Frequency of Cyberbullying."

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Learn what is bullying and what are the different types of bullying.

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the characteristics of the victim are...?

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Bullying victims often have few friends and are seen as isolated, making them more vulnerable to those seeking to feel superior. They usually appear weaker, shy, or lacking confidence, and in some cases may have special needs or learning difficulties. These traits make bullies perceive them as less likely to defend themselves, making it easier to control them.

. (2023, May 9). Education healthacare public services. Identifying Bullies & Victims. https://www.aft.org

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Bullies can best be defined by their personality style. Researchers describe bullies as:Enjoying aggression and the rewards gained from aggressive acts;Lacking empathy for their victim;Lacking guilt for their actions;Dominating and like to be in charge;Having aggressive role models; andThinking unrealistically about how the world should meet their needs.There are two types of victims: passive victims and provocative victims. Passive victims generally do not defend themselves and can be characterized by:

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Juan Diego  What are the types of bullying?

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Juan Diego  What are the types of bullying?

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Several types of bullying affect children and adults. These include:

Physical bullying: It involves hitting, pushing, and even beating a single victim by one or more bullies. Sometimes, theft or intentional damage to the victims' belongings also occurs.

Psychological bullying: This involves persecution, intimidation, tyranny, blackmail, manipulation, and threats against the victim.

Bullying verbal: These are actions that discriminate, spread gossip or rumors, exclude, or insult the victim. They include name-calling, insults, threats, mockery, ridicule, generating racist or sexual rumors, etc.

Sexual bullying: Includes sexual harassment, inducement or abuse, or malicious references to the victim's private body parts.

Social bullying: It seeks to isolate the victim from the group, ignoring, excluding and isolating them from the rest.

Cyberbullying: With the penetration of new technologies, this type of act has become increasingly frequent.It is a very serious and worrying type of harassment due to the high visibility and reach achieved by the acts of humiliation against the victim and the anonymity that the harassers can maintain.

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En este post, presentaremos las distintas formas de bullying o acoso escolar que existen y en qué consiste cada una de ellas: bullying físico, psicológico, verbal, sexual, social y ciberbullying. Si quieres conocer cuáles son los efectos del bullying en la víctima y el agresor, te recomendamos la lectura del artículo: " Bullying: consecuencias en la víctima y el agresor". El acoso escolar o bullying es un problema que se da con frecuencia en las aulas de todo el mundo. En ocasiones es difícil de detectar, no solo porque tenga lugar lejos de la presencia física y visibilidad de los adultos, sino porque tiende a diversificarse y, en el caso del ciberbullying, aprovecha las nuevas tecnologías para amplificar los actos de humillación a la víctima preservando, además, el anonimato de los acosadores. Hasta el momento se han tipificado 6 tipos de bullying, dándose frecuentemente situaciones de varios tipos de acoso contra la misma víctima durante mucho tiempo: meses, todo un curso escolar e incluso varios años. Si quieres saber qué tipos de bullying existen, cuáles son los factores de riesgo y cómo detectarlo y prevenirlo, te recomendamos la guía "Bullying en el aula".

Bullying físico

Es el tipo de acoso más común, especialmente entre chicos. Incluye golpes, empujones e incluso palizas entre uno o varios agresores contra una sola víctima, En ocasiones, se produce también el robo o daño intencionado de las pertenencias de las víctimas.

En este caso existe una persecución, intimidación, tiranía, chantaje, manipulación y amenazas al otro. Son acciones que dañan la autoestima de la víctima y fomentan su sensación de temor, con el problema añadido que son las más difíciles de detectar por parte de profesores o padres porque son formas de acoso o exclusión que se llevan a cabo a espaldas de cualquier persona que pueda advertir la situación. Frecuentemente, los agresores utilizan esta forma de acoso con el fin de subrayar, reforzar o resaltar acciones llevadas a cabo con anterioridad, manteniendo así latente la amenaza. Incrementan la fuerza del maltrato, pues el acosador exhibe un poder mayor al mostrar que es capaz de amenazar aunque esté presente una figura de autoridad. En el agredido, aumenta el sentimiento de indefensión y vulnerabilidad, pues percibe este atrevimiento como una amenaza que tarde o temprano se materializará de manera más contundente. Pueden consistir, por ejemplo, en una mirada, una señal obscena, una cara desagradable o un gesto.

Bullying verbal

Son acciones no corporales con la finalidad de discriminar, difundir chismes o rumores, realizar acciones de exclusión o bromas insultantes y repetidas del tipo poner apodos, insultar, amenazar, burlarse, reírse de los otros, generar rumores de carácter racista o sexual, etc. Es más utilizado por algunas chicas a medida que se van acercando a la adolescencia.

Bullying sexual

Se presenta un asedio, inducción o abuso sexual o referencias malintencionadas a partes íntimas del cuerpo de la víctima. Incluye el b ullying homófobo, que es cuando el maltrato hace referencia a la orientación sexual de la víctima por motivos de homosexualidad real o imaginaria.

Bullying social

Pretende aislar al niño o joven del resto del grupo, ignorándolo, aislándolo y excluyéndolo del resto Puede ser directo: excluir, no dejar participar a la víctima en actividades, sacarlos del grupo o indirecto: ignorar, tratar como un objeto, como si no existiera o hacer ver que no está ahí.

Ciber-bullying o bullying cibernético

Con la penetración de las nuevas tecnologías, cada vez es más frecuente este tipo de actos. Es un tipo de acoso muy grave y preocupante por la gran visibilidad y alcance que se logra de los actos de humillación contra la víctima y el anonimato en que pueden permanecer los acosadores. Los canales son muy variados: mensajes de texto en móviles, tablets y ordenadores, páginas web y blogs, juegos on line, correos electrónicos, chats, encuestas on line de mal gusto, redes sociales, suplantación de identidad para poner mensajes, etc. El contenido del acoso va desde los típicos insultos a montajes fotográficos o de vídeo de mal gusto, imágenes inadecuadas de la víctima tomadas sin su permito, críticas respecto al origen, religión, el nivel socioeconómico de la víctima o de sus familiares y amigos, etc. Todo vale con el fin de humillarla. Con independencia del tipo de bullying, el perfil del acosador suele ser el de una persona físicamente fuerte, impulsiva, dominante, con conductas antisociales y con una ausencia total de empatía con sus víctimas.

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Las diversas formas de bullying: físico, psicológico, verbal, sexual, social y ciberbullying

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En este post, presentaremos las distintas formas de bullying o acoso escolar que existen y en qué consiste cada una de ellas: bullying físico, psicológico, verbal, sexual, social y ciberbullying. Si quieres conocer cuáles son los efectos del bullying en la víctima y el agresor, te recomendamos la lectura del artículo: " Bullying: consecuencias en la víctima y el agresor".

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Bullying can usually be: intentionally, repetitive and hurtful. The bully try to cause fear, it could be through physical or hurtful words. Bullying is also repeated but, with boys is mostly physical agression and in girls is mostly psychological bullying.

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Bullies hit you, say negative things to you, kick you, write mean things to you on the internet, and make fun of you. But, actually they are mean.

https://www.lisainstitute.com/blogs/blog/lista-medidas-contra-acoso-ciberacoso#:~:text=Tienen%20un%20car%C3%A1cter%20tozudo%2C%20obstinado,calculadoras%20y%20carecen%20de%20empat%C3%ADa.

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El acoso, en cualquiera de sus vertientes, acoso escolar ( bullying), acoso laboral ( mobbing), acoso de pareja (componente esencial en la violencia doméstica o de género), acoso sexual y acoso filio-parental (de hijos a padres), es un proceso complejo conformado por una serie de conductas con la intencionalidad última de degradar a la víctima. Este fenómeno afecta a jóvenes y adultos de toda condición y género.

A todos nos puede afectar el acoso: a nosotros mismos, a nuestros hijos, a nuestra pareja o a cualquier amigo/a. Dado que desde LISA Institute queremos hacer del mundo un lugar más seguro, justo y protegido, a continuación te mostramos:

1. Qué es el acoso y el ciberacoso.

2. Estadísticas para conocer mejor la problemática.

3. La lista de 10 indicadores para reconocer a un acosador/a.

4. La lista de 10 medidas que debes aplicar para gestionar de forma eficaz un caso de acoso o ciberacoso ya sea como víctima o como testigo.

Podemos definir el acoso como el desempeño de conductas dañinas (maltrato físico, psicológico, verbal, sexual, social y/o aquel que se produce mediante la utilización de medios tecnológicos), llevadas a cabo de forma sistemática y repetitiva por parte de un individuo o grupo de individuos hacia una persona concreta -víctima-, con la finalidad de conducir a su destrucción emocional.

El acoso nos puede afectar directamente a cualquiera. Indirectamente, el acoso nos afecta a todos.

Existen diferentes tipos de acoso que pueden darse en distintos ámbitos y etapas de la vida de una persona. Desde el acoso físico, también llamado stalking, que generan conductas de acecho y persecución a las víctimas con el objetivo de dañar su integridad moral y también como medio de obtener información a través de torturas, hasta el acoso social donde pueden existir conductas de aislamiento, apartando a la persona del resto del grupo, dañando su autoestima, así como su sentimiento de pertenencia a un grupo.

El ciberacoso es un tipo de acoso que nace con el uso inadecuado de las Nuevas Tecnologías, concretamente a través de las redes sociales, correos electrónicos o aplicaciones de mensajería instantánea. Por tanto, hablamos de cualquier ataque con una clara intención de hacer daño, amparándose en ocasiones en el anonimato que facilita internet y las redes sociales, y con cualquier medio de las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC).

Hablamos de ciberacoso cuando existe una intencionalidad perversa de causar un mal inminente y grave hacia otra persona, -la víctima-, a través de ser presa y objeto de una variedad de insultos, burlas y toda clase de agresiones a través de la Red.

El ciberacoso normalmente es continuación y complemento del acoso, aunque en otras ocasiones el ciberacoso se inicia en primer lugar.

En ambos casos, tanto en el acoso como en el ciberacoso, el objetivo del acosador/a es controlar y humillar a la persona escogida convenientemente, a quien considera débil, insegura o con características físicas, psicológicas o emocionales peculiares.

Debemos tener en cuenta que existen diferencias en el desarrollo del acoso en función del ámbito del que hablemos. Mientras que los adultos emplean con más frecuencia la violencia psicológica en el ámbito laboral, en el ámbito escolar se suele emplear la violencia física. Además, es en este contexto donde los testigos y observadores tienen un papel esencial para el mantenimiento del acoso ya que por miedo a las represalias o por pertenecer a un grupo, se mantienen callados o evitan enfrentarse a los agresores.

Las cifras de prevalencia del acoso varían en función del ámbito en el que nos encontremos y siempre partimos de la base que hay una cifra negra que no es recogida en las estadísticas. Estas son algunas de las estadísticas más destacables:

En el ámbito del acoso laboral (mobbing), según los datos de la encuesta Nacional de Condiciones de Trabajo publicado por el Instituto Nacional de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo (INSST), en el año 2015, el sector servicios es el sector que más sufre acoso laboral a través de ofensas verbales (8,9%), de amenazas (4,8%), de comportamientos humillantes (5,3%) y de conductas intimidatorias (3,8%) frente al sector agrario que es el que menos padece según la encuesta.

En el ámbito del acoso escolar (bullying), las últimas cifras ofrecidas por el Ministerio de educación en España resaltan que durante el año 2017 el teléfono de atención al acoso en el ámbito escolar atendió más de 25.000 llamadas. En ese mismo año, último para el que se tienen cifras actualizadas, España superó por primera vez el millar de víctimas de acoso escolar, alcanzando los 1.054 casos, 110 más que en el año anterior y 164 más que un lustro antes.

Las Comunidades Autónomas de Andalucía y Madrid son las que mayor número de menores víctimas de acoso registraron (234 y 170 casos anuales respectivamente).

Si nos detenemos en el ciberacoso escolar (ciberbullying), la Fundación ANAR y la Fundación Mutua Madrileña publicaron un informe (2016) donde se reflejaron los siguientes datos:

Uno de cada cuatro casos de acoso escolar es ciberacoso que aumenta a partir de los 13 años.

Las chicas sufren más este tipo de acoso que los chicos (70%-30%).

La plataforma más utilizada para este tipo de acoso es el WhatsApp (81%).

El hostigamiento es diario para un 71,8% de las víctimas.

La mayoría de las víctimas son de nacionalidad española y pertenecen a familias convencionales y sin problemas económicos (86%)

Acosadores suelen ser de la misma escuela que las víctimas, actúan en grupo y suelen ser de su mismo sexo.

El 30,6% del ciberacoso van unidos a agresiones físicas.

Por último, el Informe "Una lección diaria: #STOPViolenciaInfantil en las escuelas" (2018), elaborado por el Fondo de la ONU para la infancia (UNICEF), pone de manifiesto que la violencia entre menores, tanto en forma de violencia psicológica como de agresiones físicas, es una problemática generalizada en la educación de los niños en todo el mundo. Asimismo, el informe destaca que 1 de cada 3 adolescentes se ha sentido acosado, siendo el riesgo mayor entre aquellos que pertenecen a etnias o grupos minoritarios, así como los que presentan una diversidad funcional, o los menores LGTBI.

Las características de personalidad de los agresores van a influir en que lleven a caso procesos de acoso. Es importante conocer cuál es el perfil de personalidad de las personas que comenten actos de acoso ya que, conociendo las carencias y fortalezas de un acosador/a, sus motivaciones, su forma de pensar y de sentir y por qué hace lo que hace, podremos desarrollar una serie de herramientas basadas en el conocimiento y en la comprensión y así, poder trabajar en la prevención y/o neutralización de sus ataques.

Si bien es importante tener en cuenta que, aunque a continuación determinemos un perfil de personalidad determinado del estudio de miles de casos de acoso, siempre puede haber excepciones.

No existen dos personas iguales en su manera de sentir, pensar y actuar, pero sí que existen patrones.

Estos son los rasgos que nos permitirán detectar a un acosador/a:

1. Personas con baja tolerancia al rechazo y/o a opiniones contrarias a la suya: Perciben las discrepancias como un ataque personal por lo cual pueden tener conductas desafiantes ya que interpretan que deben defenderse. Normalmente, suelen tener sentimientos de superioridad hacia el resto de las personas.

2. Presentan una personalidad basada en la obsesión: Los individuos que presentan un carácter obsesivo tienen una inmensa necesidad de dominar, controlar y clasificar. Suelen apegarse a los detalles, a menudo en detrimento del resultado final. Quieren que las cosas se hagan de una manera determinada y no de otra. Tienen un carácter tozudo, obstinado y de un autoritarismo rígido sin permitir sugerencias u otras opciones. Aceptar otras maneras de pensar lo pueden percibir como debilidad y/o cuestionamiento.

3. Personas con una personalidad narcisista: Son personas frías, calculadoras y carecen de empatía. Son fuertes en habilidades para seducir y convencer a aquellas personas que les interesa para proteger su territorio y que se pueden convertir en posibles víctimas. Saben utilizar para su provecho el vínculo de la subordinación que les permite esclavizar al otro.

4. Presentan una autoestima deteriorada sintiendo envidia hacia las personas que tienen aquello que ellos desean: Son muy pesimistas y la vitalidad de los demás le señala sus propias carencias. Para aumentar su autoestima necesitan destruir y conseguir que sus víctimas se rebajen y exalten sus supuestas cualidades. En sus relaciones de pareja, suelen unirse a personas positivas para poder vivir de ellas emocionalmente haciéndolas sentir mal de manera progresiva. Normalmente se autoclasifican como personas de alto estatus social o intelectual rodeándose de personas compatibles a sus valores. En el trabajo consiguen que los demás les hagan el trabajo. Son incapaces de realizar tareas que otros harían sin la menor dificultad.

¿Cuáles son los motivos que llevan a una persona a actuar de esta manera?

Existen factores comunes que comparten las personas acosadoras a comportarse como lo hacen, independientemente de su edad y el ámbito. Heinz Leymann, pionero en el estudio del mobbing, defiende que "el comportamiento de la persona acosadora está motivado por las carencias personales y busca cubrirlas desesperadamente".

Es decir, tras aquel o aquella que ejerce un hostigamiento suele esconderse una personalidad inundada de miedos e inseguridades respecto al ejercicio de su profesión y a su propio sentimiento de valía. De esta manera, intenta elevar su autoestima a través de un proceso de humillación, hostigamiento y ridiculización que sufre su víctima.

En la gran mayoría de las ocasiones, este proceso se ve fortalecido por ciertas actitudes autoexigencia y responsabilidad por parte de la víctima, convirtiéndose en la persona ideal para los acosadores.

A continuación, te planteamos algunos consejos a seguir para saber gestionar un caso de acoso o ciberacoso. Puede ser útil tanto si te encuentras en una situación de acoso o ciberacoso como si conoces a alguien de tu alrededor que puede estar sufriéndolo y puedas ayudarle:

1. Busca apoyo en personas de confianza de tu entorno: Es muy importante que expliques lo que te sucede a aquellas personas que conoces (familiares, amigos, profesores, compañeros de trabajo, etc.), para que sean conscientes de tu situación personal.

2. Aprende a reaccionar ante situaciones de estrés y tensión: La sensación de no poder hacer nada para aliviar, cambiar o modificar esa situación puede provocar la aparición o surgimiento de tensión y estrés; estrés que si se produce en el ámbito de los niños, jóvenes o adolescentes repercute muy negativamente en sus vidas, tanto a medio como a largo plazo. Peor aún, si esa presión emocional, estrés o tensión perdura mucho en el tiempo, se produce una sobrecarga, pudiendo provocar daños considerables a tener en cuenta en la salud de la persona afectada. Por consiguiente, será necesario adoptar una serie de pautas o recomendaciones que nos ayudarán a mantener el estrés y la tensión a raya, tales como dormir bien, aprender a relajarse mediante técnicas de relajación, cultivar y entrenar una mentalidad positiva, etc.

3. Denuncia aquel comportamiento inadecuado: Si recibes mensajes insultantes, intimidatorios o que te molestan, lo primero: corta la comunicación con esa persona y, seguidamente: informa de ello a la autoridad competente (ya sea tu a tu profesor, director del centro de estudios, tu jefe, responsables de la Red Social -en caso de que el acoso se produzca en dicho entorno-, o en casos más graves, a la Policía. No olvides guardar los mensajes inadecuados para poder ponerlos a disposición de la autoridad competente y contar con ello a modo de prueba.

4. Pide ayuda profesional y déjate orientar: Ponte en manos de personas o profesionales especialistas, ya sea por su edad o por su profesión sobre el asunto (psicólogos, orientadores...), para que te den unas pautas básicas y claras sobre los pasos a seguir para frenar el caso de acoso o ciberacoso en el que te encuentras.

5. Si estás viendo que agreden o acosan a alguien, actúa y ayúdale (no seas un mero observador): El acoso se produce porque el entorno no hace nada para evitarlo. Si ves que otra persona o compañero está sufriendo acoso o ciberacoso, tan importante es no contribuir al daño sumándose al acosador, como tampoco cerrar los ojos y pensar que "esto no va conmigo". Demuestra tu disconformidad, intermedia con el acosador o ponlo en conocimiento de las autoridades (profesor, jefe, policía) para frenar el sufrimiento de la persona acosada.

Debemos tener en cuenta que el acoso es una problemática social que afecta a todas las culturas y que nos puede afectar a todos en algún momento de nuestras vidas y en cualquier ámbito. Por este motivo, existen factores de riesgo que hay que conocer ya no solamente a nivel profesional sino también a nivel personal.

Ciertos rasgos de personalidad y algunas maneras de percibir y resolver los conflictos pueden propiciar que podamos desarrollar un rol de agresor o un rol de víctima. Por tanto, entendiendo el " por qué" existe el acoso y el " para qué " sirve, podemos desarrollar estrategias óptimas para su prevención y su intervención en estadios tempranos atenuando las múltiples consecuencias.

Si te ha parecido útil este artículo, compártelo. Cuanto más personas de tu alrededor sean capaces de identificar a los perfiles de acosadores/as y sepan cómo frenar el acoso, más acosos y ciberacosos conseguiremos evitar.

Si quieres ampliar información sobre el acoso y el ciberacoso, consulta estos artículos de nuestro blog:

Si quieres formarte en Prevención de Acoso y Ciberacoso, te recomendamos este curso online:

Suscríbete para ser el primero en recibir artículos, análisis y noticias, además de descuentos exclusivos para suscriptores en formación sobre Seguridad, Inteligencia, Ciberseguridad y Geopolítica.

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Lista de 10 indicadores para detectar a un acosador/a y cómo gestionarlo

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El acoso nos puede afectar directamente (si somos víctimas), o de forma indirecta, cuando son acosados nuestros hijos, nuestra pareja, compañeros del trabajo o algún amigo. Por eso, en este artículo te explicamos: Qué es el acoso y el ciberacoso. Estadísticas para conocer mejor la problemática.

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Juan Diego V. What are the types of bullying?

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Juan Diego V. What are the types of bullying?

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There are 3 types of bullying behaviour:

Verbal bullying which includes name calling or insulting someone about their physical characteristics such as weight or height, or other attributes including race, sexuality, culture, or religion

Physical bullying which includes hitting or otherwise hurting someone, shoving or intimidating another person, or damaging or stealing their belongings

Social bullying which includes consistently excluding another person or sharing information, images or other digital content that will have a harmful effect on the other person.

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Bullying is an intentionally and aggressive behavior. It can be repeated over time, that involves an imbalance of power. Kids who hurt others and keep doing it even when the bullied shows or expresses their hurt or tell the aggressors to stop, make the victim feel powerless and fearful.

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The Difference Between Rude, Mean, and Bullying

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Many parents are concerned about bullying, protecting their kids from it, and making sure their kids aren’t engaging in it. But with so much talk about bullying, sometimes we call behavior “bullying” that is actually not.

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Juan Diego V. What are the types of bullying?

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Juan Diego V. What are the types of bullying?

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Verbal Bullying

Name-calling: Insulting someone by calling them "stupid" or "loser" to belittle them.

Social Bullying

Exclusion: Deliberately leaving someone out of group activities to make them feel isolated

Phisical bullying: Damaging personal belongings: Throwing or destroying someone's possessions, like books or electronics

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Bullying is any unwanted or aggressive behavior from someone who is intentionally trying to upset, harm, or have power over you. Bullying occurs among children, adolescents, and teens, either in person, online, or through social media. Adults can also be bullied, both in social groups and in the workplace.

Read on to learn more about the main types of bullying, signs someone is being bullied, and how to deal with a bully.

6 Types of Bullying

In the United States in 2019, 1 out of 5 children ages 12-18 reported being bullied at school. Bullying included being:

Made fun of or called names

Threatened

Pressured into doing things

Excluded from activities

Pushed, shoved, tripped, or spit on

The subject of rumors

There are six main types of bullying, as discussed below.

Verbal Bullying

Verbal bullying is when someone is saying or writing harmful things or making threats. It includes:

Name-calling

Taunting

Teasing

Threatening to cause harm

Making inappropriate comments

Social Bullying

Social bullying is also called relational bullying, relational aggression, or emotional bullying. It involves threatening someone's reputation or relationships.

Social bullying can include:

Excluding someone on purpose

Spreading rumors and gossip about someone

Shunning, or telling others not to interact or be friends with someone

Publicly embarrassing someone

Physical Bullying

Physical bullying includes bodily harm or damage to possessions. Any form of aggressive physical contact constitutes physical bullying.

This type of bullying can include:

Hitting, kicking, or spitting on someone

Tripping or pushing someone

Taking or breaking someone's things

Making mean or inappropriate gestures

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying involves bullying or harassing someone online or through social media. This harassment can occur on a computer, telephone, cell, or text messaging device.

Cyberbullying can include:

Sending mean texts

Posting insults about someone on social media

Making rude comments about someone's posts

Posting or sending personal information about someone to others in order to hurt or embarrass that person

Threatening someone or bullying them through online chats or groups

In a 2018 survey, 59% of U.S. teens reported being cyberbullied.

Racist Bullying

Racist or racial bullying can include all other types of bullying, even physical attacks. It includes:

Belittling, mocking, or intimidating someone because of their race

Devaluing someone's racial background

Discrediting someone's religious or cultural practices

Insulting or shaming a person's speech, the way they dress, or their customs

Sexual Bullying

Sexual bullying includes any unwanted sexual physical contact, inappropriate comments, or online harassment. It includes:

Sending or posting sexually explicit photos, messages, or videos

Making inappropriate sexual comments, jokes, or hand gestures

Spreading sexual rumors

Groping, grabbing, or touching in a sexual manner

Pressuring someone for sex or sexually explicit photos

Help Is Available for Bullying

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or self-harm because of bullying, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If they are in immediate danger, call 911.

Signs of Bullying

Bullying occurs intentionally out of the sight of adults. When there are warning signs, they usually involve behavioral and emotional changes.

Signs someone you know is being bullied include:

They have physical signs like cuts, bruises, or scratches that are not easily explained.

They try to get out of going to school.

They suddenly start doing poorly in school.

They come home moody, sad, teary, depressed, or overly fatigued.

They have a loss of appetite or develop an eating disorder.

They appear more stressed or anxious than usual.

Their belongings come home torn or damaged, or they are missing altogether.

They experience headaches, nausea, stomach aches, or other physical symptoms.

They have nightmares, sleep disorders, insomnia, or trouble sleeping.

If You Think Your Child Is Being Bullied

If you think your child is being bullied, it's important to talk to them. They may not ask for help out of fear that it will make things worse. Instead of putting them on the spot, start a general conversation to lead into the topic. Let them know you want to help them. Some suggestions include:

"There's been a lot of discussion about bullying on the news. Do you know if that happens at your school?"

"Is there anyone at school you don't like to be around?"

"Are there any kids at school who are mean to you or other kids?"

Why Do People Bully?

One study indicates that bullies tend to be bullied by their own family, so they may observe and mimic aggressive or angry behavior.

Other reasons may include that they are:

Lashing out for attention due to lack of attention at home or elsewhere

Being bullied by their older siblings or adults in their lives (parent, teacher, coach, etc.)

Elevating their own social status among their peers

Trying to fit in with others who are bullying

Insecure, feeling incompetent, or experiencing poor self-esteem

Bullies may feel emotional relief from their own insecurity by dominating others.

Bullies often blame others and don't accept the consequences of their actions.

How to Deal With a Bully

Bullies gain power and control by getting a reaction out of others. They get this reaction by aggravating, frightening, angering, or threatening others.

Some ways to deal with a bully include:

Get help:Seek help if you're being bullied. This is especially important if it is escalating toward physical threats or actual assaults.

Respond, don't react: You may feel upset on the inside, but if you can respond calmly instead of reacting emotionally, you maintain control of your emotions. Getting a reaction out of other people is how bullies try to gain power and control.

Walk away:If safe to do so, walk away from the situation.

Take a screenshot:If you are cyberbullied,take a screenshot as evidence.

Strength in numbers:Effective bullying intervention programs assign students into roles of peer supporters, peer mediators, and peer educators.

When You Are the Bully

If you think you may be a bully-or others have accused you of being a bully-consider these questions:

Have you repeatedly called other people names?

Have you used your size or tone of voice to intimidate or threaten others?

Have you made fun of others or said mean things to people about their weight or appearance?

Have you spread rumors, posted comments, or shared something negative about someone on social media?

If you are mistreating others, you may have been mistreated yourself. It may be helpful to talk to a school counselor, trusted adult, or mental health professional.

The Effects of Bullying

Adults bullied as children are likely to have mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety disorder, and antisocial personality disorder.

Bullying affects bullies negatively as well. In one study, men who bullied and men who were bullied had increased risks of suicide.

Other effects in children and teenagers may include:

Low self-esteem

Loss of interest in social activities

Thoughts of self-harm or suicide

Development of eating disorders

Nightmares

Loss of interest in school

Difficulty focusing on learning

Poor school attendance

Lower testing scores and lower grades

Higher dropout rates

Bullying is any unwanted and aggressive behavior that is intentionally done to hurt another person. It often occurs among children, adolescents, and teens, but it can happen to adults as well. Bullying creates a power imbalance, and it usually occurs repeatedly.

Types of bullying include physical, verbal, social, cyber, racist, and sexual. People who have been bullied may experience effects like depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.

A Word From Verywell

Being bullied can make you feel helpless, anxious, and depressed. Support is available to help you address any bullying you are facing. To find resources in your area, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the relationship between bullying and depression?

Studies show bullies often do have depression. Researchers wonder if the bullying behavior is a way of acting out the depression.

In the United States in 2019, 22% of students ages 12-18 experienced bullying. In another study from 2019, 19.5% of students in grades 9-12 indicated they were bullied at school.

How do you deal with a bully?

A few ways to handle a bully include:

Try to avoid the bully, and walk or run away from them if it's safe to do so.

Alert nearby people or an authority figure.

Try to remain calm.

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Bullying is any unwanted or aggressive behavior from someone who is intentionally trying to upset, harm, or have power over you. Bullying occurs among children, adolescents, and teens, either in person, online, or through social media. Adults can also be bullied, both in social groups and in the workplace.

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Bullying victims rarely tell their parents and often face it alone, which can lead to depression or even suicide. Risk signs include unexplained injuries, skipping school, self-harm, eating disorders, loss of interest in activities, and mood changes like anxiety or low self-esteem.

. (2025, January 13). Universal class. Understanding Bullying: the Victim. https://www.universalclass.com/articles/psychology/understanding-bullying-the-victim.htm

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We have heard some stories in prior lessons of teens who were bullied. By learning about some of these teens, it helps to bring the idea of bullying to life.

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Characteristics of a bully in the school

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Generally, the characteristics of a bully are intention, repetition and power.

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It is therefore vital to gain more information about those young people who are particularly at risk of bullying so that policy interventions can be based on good evidence and targeted at the right groups. Previous research tells us that race and ethnicity, religion, culture, sexuality, disability, being a young carer and having special educational needs are all likely to make young people more susceptible to bullying. However, no previous research has attempted to take account of a large number of other factors that might explain the relationships between these characteristics and bullying

Ross, A. (2020, July 2). ResearchGate. Characteristics of bullying victims in schools. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242657164_Characteristics_of_bullying_victims_in_school

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Characteristics of a bully in a friendship

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A bully in a friendship may be controlling, critical, manipulative, jealous, and emotionally threatening, often making the relationship feel unsafe or one-sided.

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Friends help make life more meaningful. They provide social and emotional support, ease feelings of loneliness, and help you feel happier and more satisfied with life.

Maintaining social connections can even lengthen your lifespan and lower your risk of mental and physical health concerns, including depression and high blood pressure.

Some friendships might not have such a positive effect. Others might be downright toxic.

Toxic friendships can take different forms, but they generally drain you mentally and have a way of bringing you down instead of building you up.

Wondering how to recognize a toxic friendship? Not sure how to deal with the situation or how it might affect you? We're here to help with 25 tips on recognizing and dealing with friends that cause more harm than happiness.

Everyone has good and bad days. On a bad day, kindness doesn't always come easily, even with loved ones. So, how can you tell the difference between a truly toxic friend and someone who's just having a bad day?

Here's a look at some other things a toxic friend might do:

Put you down

Friends often joke with each other, and a little good-natured teasing doesn't mean your friendship is toxic, especially if you're laughing, too.

When a friend regularly demeans you and makes you feel miserable, whether they use more subtle negging tactics or outright insults, your friendship probably isn't a healthy one.

Gossip

You told a friend something in confidence, and the next day, your entire social circle knows the details.

Anyone can slip up and say things they shouldn't. Toxic friends might seem to enjoy spreading secrets around, even when you ask them to keep personal information private.

Someone who consistently breaks your trust probably doesn't care much about your feelings.

Apologize without sincerity

When you call them out on their behavior, they shrug off your distress or give a flippant, "Sorry."

Instead of taking time to consider your perspective, they say, "I'm sorry you feel that way" or follow up their apology with a defensive "but."

You know the one: "I'm sorry I hurt your feelings, but it was just a joke. "

These non-apologies suggest someone doesn't really care how their actions affect you.

Make you feel nervous

Unpredictability alone doesn't necessarily indicate someone is toxic, but when their reactions could cause harm or feel abusive, it's wise to proceed with caution.

No one is entirely predictable, but it's reasonable to expect someone you trust to mostly express their emotions in safe, healthy ways.

Maybe they get extremely irritated and shout at you over tiny things, like forgetting to turn off the TV or not returning a jacket they lent you. Then, the next minute they act as if nothing happened.

If you never know how they'll react, you might have a hard time feeling comfortable around them.

Leave you unsettled

Spending time with a close friend should make you feel good, generally speaking. Maybe spending time with one particular friend leaves you uneasy or upset.

You might not even have a good explanation why, but when you leave them, you feel more relieved than disappointed, and you don't look forward to spending time with them.

If you notice this unsettled feeling, consider examining your friendship for other signs that things aren't quite right.

Compare you to other people

Have a friend who likes to point out the ways you don't measure up to their other friends? Maybe your apartment is smaller than X's apartment so it's not as fun to hang out with you. Or dressing more like Y would make you cooler.

People have their own unique traits and differences, and a good friend will recognize this. They won't compare you to others or imply you're somehow less than another person. They definitely don't use peer pressure to get you to do things you'd prefer not to do, either.

Put themselves front and center - always

Ever had a fair-weather friend? They drop in when things are going well or when they need something, but when you're struggling, you can't reach them at all.

Some friends can go on for an hour about their recent problems. When they finish venting, they offer a token, "And how are you?" before quickly turning the conversation back to themselves.

True friends don't just take. They also offer empathy for your concerns, in circumstances good, bad, or anywhere in between.

Try to change you

Someone who tries to change things about you may not be an ideal friend.

A true friend understands that people have different personalities, and they'll accept you for yourself. If you ask for guidance on something you'd like to change, they might provide support and encouragement - but they'll probably wait for you to ask instead of telling you what you should do.

Say you struggle in social settings and want to get better at meeting new people. A good friend might suggest you come to their next game night so they can introduce you to a few other friends in a comfortable environment.

Toxic friendships can have a pretty significant impact on overall well-being- and not positively. Spending time with people who don't care about your feelings can eventually affect your emotional and physical health.

If you notice any of the following signs after spending time with a friend, you may want to consider re-evaluating the friendship.

You feel lonely and isolated

Spending time with friends should increase your sense of connection.

A toxic friendship might leave you feeling ignored instead. You reach out to make plans, but you're left out of group events and your messages go unanswered (unless, of course, they need something from you).

They don't seem to want to spend time with you, and the friendship doesn't fulfill you or feel like a friendship at all.

Your stress increases

Reduced stress is one key benefit of strong friendships. Seeing friends might not always make you feel 100 percent better, but you'll probably notice some improvement.

A toxic friend, far from helping relieve stress, can add to it. They might say or do things that upset you when you spend time together, for example.

Even when you aren't with them, you might spend a lot of time thinking back to your negative interactions, which can make you feel tense, irritable, even downright awful.

You don't feel supported

True friends offer support when you need it. Sure, this support isn't always tangible. At the very least, friendship typically involves listening with empathy and offering validation for distress and pain.

In a toxic friendship, you never feel that support or compassion. You feel minimized when they brush off your problems or ignored outright if they never respond to your messages or requests for help.

In short, they aren't there for you when you need a friend most.

Your self-confidence and self-esteem take a hit

When someone continually puts you down and treats you poorly, you might start to accept this behavior and stop expecting anything better.

As you begin to believe their put-downs and start to doubt your own strengths and capabilities, your self-esteem may start to diminish.

You blame yourself for their behavior

Another outcome of manipulation? You start to think you're in the wrong.

When they lash out at you, you might believe you deserve it. You might decide they never offer support because you ask for help too often. So you try making it up to them by jumping in whenever they need something.

You might even feel grateful they spend any time with you since, after all, they've pointed out so many of your flaws.

You often feel off-balance

People who behave in toxic ways often use manipulation to get what they want. Manipulation often leaves the impression that something isn't quite right, though you can't identify exactly what.

You might feel as if you never know the right thing to say or do. They might take subtle digs at you or mock you openly, leaving you uncertain whether they mean what they say.

Their reactions (or overreactions) can further unbalance you. Sometimes they laugh things off, sometimes they shout. Not knowing which will happen can make you so confused you aren't sure how to proceed - except with extreme caution.

This uneasiness can bleed into other parts of your life, leaving you jumpy and easily upset.

Your other relationships suffer

One toxic friendship can slowly but steadily begin to poison other close relationships.

Once you start to doubt yourself, you might see yourself as a poor friend. Even if you don't start doubting yourself, you might find it difficult to trust others. You might wonder if everyone sees you as flawed, boring, or unsupportive and begin avoiding people as a result.

This can keep you from seeking support from people who really do care, leaving you further isolated and alone.

You've realized you have a toxic friendship, but what comes next?

You have two main options. You might want to try talking to your friend first. It's possible they don't realize just how unpleasant their behavior is. If you want to salvage the friendship, this might be a good first choice. The other choice involves ending the friendship.

The tips below can help you take a safe, healthy route - whichever path you choose.

It's OK to want to offer a second chance...

Maybe they weren't always toxic or don't understand how their actions affect you. Some people do need a little extra support here.

If they behave in self-centered ways without showing outright maliciousness, talking to them about the impact of their behavior could improve matters.

Use "I" statements and other productive communication methods to start a dialogue. Be open about how their behavior makes you feel and consider setting boundaries for future interactions.

For example: "I feel hurt when I hear negative comments about my hair or clothes. In the future, please don't mock my style choices."

...but this isn't always the best idea

If the friendship doesn't have any positive benefits for you, and your conversation with them hasn't helped any, it may be time to end it. The same goes for friendships that cross over into abusive territory.

You can tell someone how their actions affect you, but you can't make them change. They have to do this on their own, and not everyone is willing to make the effort.

They might promise to change and treat you better temporarily. But if they start belittling you again or returning to other patterns of toxic behavior, you're better off moving on.

Take space for yourself

If you spend a lot of time wishing a friend would treat you better, why not take a break from them for a while and see what changes?

Time apart from the friendship can help you sort through your feelings and get clarity on your next steps. You can also see how your life looks without that person in it.

Maybe things improve significantly and you feel much better when you don't have to worry about seeing them. If so, this is a strong reason to consider ending the friendship.

Set boundaries

If you do want to try maintaining the friendship, boundaries are key.

Make it clear that you won't accept certain behaviors, such as shouting, lying, gossiping, or flaking out on plans with no explanation.

You might consider explaining how these behaviors affect you and how you'll respond.

For example: "I don't like being put down, so if you keep making jokes at my expense, we can't hang out."

Practice ahead of time

Once you know you need to end the friendship, let them know.

Communicating this in person is often best. Choose a public place that also offers some privacy, like a park or other neutral location. If you don't feel safe, giving them a call or writing a letter can also work. Just try to avoid ending a friendship by text message, if possible.

Before the discussion, write out what you want to say. Will you explain your reasons or simply say the friendship no longer works for you? Organizing your thoughts and practicing beforehand (by yourself or with someone you trust) can boost your confidence and help you stick with your decision.

Be direct

While the level of detail you provide may depend on the circumstances or your history with that person, don't leave them with any ambiguity about the status of your friendship.

They may not want to end the friendship, so they may cut you off or try turning the situation around to make you feel guilty. Try not to react, even if they react angrily or aggressively. Restate your decision calmly (but firmly) and leave.

Think carefully before getting back in touch

If you decide to cut off contact, trust your instincts and avoid reaching out or responding to attempts to contact you.

In time, you might think about the good times you shared and wonder if they've changed. Remember why you ended the friendship. Restarting it could make you just as miserable again, so it's best to let some time pass before you consider picking it back up.

People can change, certainly, and if your friend reaches out with an apology that seems sincere, you might try rekindling the friendship. Just move slowly to protect yourself.

Open up to others

Getting trapped in a toxic friendship can make you feel embarrassed, confused, or distrustful of others. If you've distanced yourself from other friends, you might have a hard time connecting again.

You probably have some good friends who really do want to offer support. Reaching out to them and explaining the situation can help you regain those positive friendships, which can help you heal.

Take care of yourself

Once you end a toxic friendship, take some time to focus on yourself.

You went through something painful and difficult, so it's perfectly reasonable to need some time to heal.

Practice good self-care by:

Fill your life with positive things and reach out for support if you need it.

Ending a toxic friendship can be challenging, and it's completely normal to need a little extra support at any part of the process. A therapist can help you begin exploring your feelings about the friendship and consider options for ending it or repairing it.

Read this article in Spanish.
Crystal Raypole has previously worked as a writer and editor for GoodTherapy. Her fields of interest include Asian languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health. In particular, she's committed to helping decrease stigma around mental health issues.

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Toxic Friendship: 24 Signs, Effects, and Tips

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We often talk about toxicity in terms of romantic partners, but certain types of friends can be just as toxic.

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In conclution, I learned that bullying is a repetitive behavior, that has an intencion on the victim. Also, I learned that boys use to bully in a physical way, but girls is mostly psychological bullying.

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source

https://theconversation.com/too-many-kids-face-bullying-rooted-in-social-power-imbalances-and-educators-can-help-prevent-this-237613?

https://www.unicef.org/parenting/child-care/bullying https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35600527/

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In conclusion, kids who are different, or that have disabilities are more likely to be bullied. In oder hand older or stronger kids usually are not. The National Survey of Children’s Health says that 23,494 kids with disabilities have been bullied.